In 1964, Japan hosted the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. To handle the large influx of visitors traveling throughout the country for the Olympics, Japan developed a “bullet train” called the Shinkansen. Although originally built for the Tokyo Olympics, the Shinkansen continued operating and was expanded into multiple train lines. Over the past 50 years, these high-speed trains have become proud symbols of Japan’s vast infrastructure and technological progress. The Shinkansen trains not only help travelers move around Japan quickly and easily, but also support the daily lives of the Japanese people.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first Shinkansen bullet train, the Japan Mint struck five legal tender 100 yen coins in 2015—the first commemorative 100 yen coins minted by the Japan Mint in 39 years. This five-coin set depicts five different Shinkansen train lines on the obverse: Tokaido, Sanyo, Tohoku, Joetsu, and Hokuriku. The reverse is the same for all five coins and features an image of the first Shinkansen, nicknamed the “0 Series.” In addition, the train on the reverse includes micro-stripe detailing to enhance the design. All five coins are made of copper-nickel and feature helical ridges.
